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| Jerusalem Diary: Found tribe | Jerusalem Diary: Found tribe |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Tim Franks BBC News, Jerusalem | By Tim Franks BBC News, Jerusalem |
| THE TRIBE NO LONGER LOST | THE TRIBE NO LONGER LOST |
| There are some East Asian faces to be seen around Israel. Up in the fields of the far north, by the Lebanese border, or the groves of the far south, en route to Eilat, Thai farm workers rattle past on tractors. | There are some East Asian faces to be seen around Israel. Up in the fields of the far north, by the Lebanese border, or the groves of the far south, en route to Eilat, Thai farm workers rattle past on tractors. |
| We - having been lost - still adhere to our love for the land of Israel: this is a very, very strong part of the identity of the Bnei Menash Rabbi Yehuda Gin | We - having been lost - still adhere to our love for the land of Israel: this is a very, very strong part of the identity of the Bnei Menash Rabbi Yehuda Gin |
| In the big cities, Filipina women offer care to elderly Israelis. | In the big cities, Filipina women offer care to elderly Israelis. |
| But until I had been to Kiryat Arba, deep inside the occupied West Bank, I had not seen East Asians the other side of the Green Line - the internationally recognised boundary between Israel and the West Bank. | But until I had been to Kiryat Arba, deep inside the occupied West Bank, I had not seen East Asians the other side of the Green Line - the internationally recognised boundary between Israel and the West Bank. |
| Kiryat Arba is a slightly down-at-heel place these days. It lies next to Hebron, the tense and divided city that exerts a strong historical pull for Muslims and Jews. | Kiryat Arba is a slightly down-at-heel place these days. It lies next to Hebron, the tense and divided city that exerts a strong historical pull for Muslims and Jews. |
| The story that we tend to report is the hotly-contested dispute as to whether Jews should be allowed to settle here at all - on what all governments outside Israel regard as occupied territory. | The story that we tend to report is the hotly-contested dispute as to whether Jews should be allowed to settle here at all - on what all governments outside Israel regard as occupied territory. |
| But there is another remarkable and little-told story at play here: the story of Indians from a remote part of that vast country, who have come to this place, believing that they are one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. | But there is another remarkable and little-told story at play here: the story of Indians from a remote part of that vast country, who have come to this place, believing that they are one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. |
| On the side of a plain, pre-fabricated building in Kiryat Arba is a plaque, proclaiming that this is a community centre for "our Bnei Menashe brethren". The brown-skinned, almond-eyed children playing inside have travelled thousands of kilometres from north-east India. | On the side of a plain, pre-fabricated building in Kiryat Arba is a plaque, proclaiming that this is a community centre for "our Bnei Menashe brethren". The brown-skinned, almond-eyed children playing inside have travelled thousands of kilometres from north-east India. |
| Michael Freund's (left) organisation aims to gather in the lost tribes of Israel | Michael Freund's (left) organisation aims to gather in the lost tribes of Israel |
| Rabbi Yehuda Gin stabs his forefinger at a map of the region, sandwiched between Burma and Bangladesh. The story of the "children of Menashe" is that they were exiled from Israel, 2700 years ago, by the Assyrians. Their wandering took them, in the end, to north-east India. | Rabbi Yehuda Gin stabs his forefinger at a map of the region, sandwiched between Burma and Bangladesh. The story of the "children of Menashe" is that they were exiled from Israel, 2700 years ago, by the Assyrians. Their wandering took them, in the end, to north-east India. |
| "In the external appearance," Rabbi Gin says, "it is very hard to prove that we are part of the Israel nation, or part of the tribes." But he insists that the kipot (skullcaps) which most of the Bnei Menashe men wear symbolise their commitment. "We - having been lost - still adhere to our love for the land of Israel: this is a very, very strong part of the identity of the Bnei Menashe." | "In the external appearance," Rabbi Gin says, "it is very hard to prove that we are part of the Israel nation, or part of the tribes." But he insists that the kipot (skullcaps) which most of the Bnei Menashe men wear symbolise their commitment. "We - having been lost - still adhere to our love for the land of Israel: this is a very, very strong part of the identity of the Bnei Menashe." |
| Tsvi Khaute reads a Hebrew prayer to an East Asian tune | Tsvi Khaute reads a Hebrew prayer to an East Asian tune |
| The community centre is named Beit Miriam, after the grandmother of Michael Freund. He set up an organisation, called Shavei Yisrael (Israel Returns), to gather in the communities which he believes are the lost tribes. | The community centre is named Beit Miriam, after the grandmother of Michael Freund. He set up an organisation, called Shavei Yisrael (Israel Returns), to gather in the communities which he believes are the lost tribes. |
| "I myself was sceptical," he concedes. "But once I travelled to the north-east of India and I met with the members of the community and I learned more about their history and their tradition and their customs, I became convinced that they are in fact descendants of a lost tribe - that they do have a deep connection to the people of Israel." | "I myself was sceptical," he concedes. "But once I travelled to the north-east of India and I met with the members of the community and I learned more about their history and their tradition and their customs, I became convinced that they are in fact descendants of a lost tribe - that they do have a deep connection to the people of Israel." |
| In a quiet room away from the hectic games of the Bnei Menashe children, Tsvi Khaute takes a prayer-book down from a shelf. He opens to a page from the Shabbat morning service, and the traditional Ayn Keiloheinu prayer, which is sung by Jewish communities around the world. The Hebrew words are the same, but the tune he sings has a distinctly pentatonic, East Asian flavour. | In a quiet room away from the hectic games of the Bnei Menashe children, Tsvi Khaute takes a prayer-book down from a shelf. He opens to a page from the Shabbat morning service, and the traditional Ayn Keiloheinu prayer, which is sung by Jewish communities around the world. The Hebrew words are the same, but the tune he sings has a distinctly pentatonic, East Asian flavour. |
| Kiryat Arba is at the edge of Hebron, a regular flashpoint between Palestinians and Jewish settlers | Kiryat Arba is at the edge of Hebron, a regular flashpoint between Palestinians and Jewish settlers |
| The faith, then, appears to have deep religious roots. But that still leaves the possibility that the Bnei Menashe may have wanted to come to Israel for economic reasons - to improve their standard of living. | The faith, then, appears to have deep religious roots. But that still leaves the possibility that the Bnei Menashe may have wanted to come to Israel for economic reasons - to improve their standard of living. |
| Tsvi Khaute insists not. His family, he says, includes a state minister and the head of the secret police. | Tsvi Khaute insists not. His family, he says, includes a state minister and the head of the secret police. |
| "We are a well-to-do family. So it is not an economic consideration. If you live outside Israel," he says, his voice becoming impassioned, "it's as if you don't have God." | "We are a well-to-do family. So it is not an economic consideration. If you live outside Israel," he says, his voice becoming impassioned, "it's as if you don't have God." |
| HEBRON BACKGROUND Long shadow of 1929 Hebron massacre Palestinian life: Splits and barriers Mixed emotions on Hebron tour Fiction meets fact in Hebron film Hebron turned into 'ghost town' | HEBRON BACKGROUND Long shadow of 1929 Hebron massacre Palestinian life: Splits and barriers Mixed emotions on Hebron tour Fiction meets fact in Hebron film Hebron turned into 'ghost town' |
| Tzvi Khaute is equally certain about his right to live here, on what governments outside Israel regard as an illegal settlement on occupied territory. "Those who claim that Hebron is not Jewish, they don't know their identity. This is a very, very important place where the Jews belong." | Tzvi Khaute is equally certain about his right to live here, on what governments outside Israel regard as an illegal settlement on occupied territory. "Those who claim that Hebron is not Jewish, they don't know their identity. This is a very, very important place where the Jews belong." |
| There is another, more prosaic reason that the Bnei Menashe ended up in Kiryat Arba. Fifteen years ago, it was one of the only Israeli-run councils willing to accept these unusual-looking immigrants. | There is another, more prosaic reason that the Bnei Menashe ended up in Kiryat Arba. Fifteen years ago, it was one of the only Israeli-run councils willing to accept these unusual-looking immigrants. |
| The international consensus is that Jews should not be settling in Kiryat Arba at all - that it should be part of a new Palestinian state. And if that were ever to happen then the Bnei Menashe's remarkable story of wandering may well take another turn. | The international consensus is that Jews should not be settling in Kiryat Arba at all - that it should be part of a new Palestinian state. And if that were ever to happen then the Bnei Menashe's remarkable story of wandering may well take another turn. |
| Please send your comments on Tim Franks' latest Jerusalem diary using the postform below. | Please send your comments on Tim Franks' latest Jerusalem diary using the postform below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |
| There are many many Indian Jewish families in Israel. Where I was born next to Metula on the northest point in Israel, there is a little moshav called Kfar Yuval. For many years the mainly Indian residents were poor and struggled financially. Things are better now in that part of Israel. One thing is sure, there was never a doubt in any of us about their Jewishness. We were one.Itsik, London | |
| The nearly half million Jews now settled in the illegally occupied territories must go. The fault lies of course with the Judeo-Christian West and that mythical "international community", for, unless forced to do so, why should a violent criminal change his behaviour of a lifetime? The world was quick to use massive military force to end Saddam Hussein's illegal annexation of Kuwait - what is the difference with Israel?Ibraheem (O.E.H.Johansen), Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| "If you live outside Israel, it's as if you don't have God". Whoa, I thought Jews believed in an omnipresent God too. This people lived in India for 2700 years. In all those centuries, after Buddha, Mahaveer, Paramhans etc came to the land, these people couldn't accept India's basic philosophy, God is one, he is everywhere, in every one? I wouldn't be surprised if after 2700 years in Israel he still hasn't found his God!docboston, El Paso, USA | |
| Leave it to be the BBC to overly politicize a story about people wandering home. These people could have invented a cure for cancer and the BBC would still ramble on and on about how they did it in a politically changed atmosphere. Nathan, Hoboken, NJ | |
| This is colonialism pure and simple. It is an interesting story but if the Bnei Menashe wish to live in Israel they should live in the recognised borders of that country, not on Palestinian land. James Wild, London UK | |
| Dear Tim, Thank you for writing such a wonderful article on the Bnei Menashe. I hope your article will be an eye opener for the many bystanders. Odelia Ester Khongsai, Kiryat Arba, Israel |